Discovery Zone announces youth film programme

Luxembourg film festival Discovery Zone on Monday lifted the veil on this year's youth programme, which has plenty of entertainment in store for young film lovers, from toddlers to teenagers.

14.01.2014

(MSS) Luxembourg film festival Discovery Zone on Monday lifted the veil on this year's youth programme, which has plenty of entertainment in store for young film lovers, from toddlers to teenagers.

In addition to the annual programme of screenings and workshops for youngsters, Discovery Zone has this year also set up a "Jury Jeune". A group of secondary school students will be charged with finding a winning film from this year's selection of films aimed at teenagers aged 12 to 18.

The result will be announced during the closing night of the festival, along with the prizes awarded by the international jury.

Aspiring filmmakers can also take part in a series of Meet the Pros workshops, as well as the Crème Fraiche competition, which searches for the best new screenplays and short films. For the second year in a row, the festival will host the Pitch Discovery screenwriting workshop, and more meet and greets with film professionals are on the menu.

While the programme for 3 to 5-year-olds has been significantly expanded, the line-up of films for students aged 12 to 18 has the biggest offer for English-language audiences.

School screenings for teenagers

Unfortunately, most of the screenings are reserved for schools, which can enjoy a mix of serious and light-hearted fare, including Short Term 12 about a US foster-care home for troubled teenagers, as well as Web Junkie, spotlighting the revolutionary treatment used in China, the first country in the world to classify internet addiction as a clinical disorder, and follows the rehabilitation of three teenagers who have been diagnosed as “web junkies”.

The dramatic story of the unforgettable snowboarder Kevin Pearce will be told in the documentary The Crash Reel, and Luxembourg-produced short films The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar, Elderly Spring and En Dag am Fräien will be screened with English subtitles.

The only public screening will be the Israeli documentary Dancing in Jaffa on March 1, telling the story of a Palestinian teacher, who creates bonds between Israeli and Palestinian children through dance. Languages spoken in the film are English, Arabic and Hebrew with French subtitles.

From Manchester United to Czech fairytales

For the 5 to 12-year-olds, the only film on the festival programme in English is Believe, where 11-year-old George, a talented footballer from Manchester, is caught stealing money to be able to pay the entry fee to a tournament in the city. But the old man who catches him isn't just anyone – it's Sir Matt Busby, the legendary manager of Manchester United!

Believe will be screened for the general public on March 1. The rest of the programme, includes a visually stunning Japanese Manga, two animated films, a Czech fairytale and a special show of silent films at the Crazy Cinémathographe.

Two animated films will be screened for 3 to 5-year-old audiences, introducing the Russian Cheburashka and his friends on March 2 and Spot and Splodge on March 9. Both films are in French with Luxembourgish dubbing.

For a full programme of screenings click here and visit discoveryzone.lu where more information is available on all films and workshops. Simply scroll over the "Programme" button, select "Youth" from the drop-down menu and chose the age group you're interested in.

The official selection of the 2014 Discovery Zone Luxembourg City Film Festival will be unveiled on February 5.